| #ffffff;" /> | | | | the young horses are slowly prepared for a rider |
| Horseback riding is a sport at which women excel. | | | | without being pushed too much. It is a long process |
| One can try to explain their success because they are | | | | demanding considerable patience which few men |
| lighter than men and have obvious anatomical | | | | seem willing to offer. They prefer crash programs, |
| advantages for the saddle. This is certainly not | | | | much in vogue these days, which overwhelm the |
| everything. After 70 years of riding and close | | | | horse in a short time and give quick results, but do not |
| association with riders, I am convinced that the most | | | | work so well to make a trusting partner out of the |
| important reason for feminine preeminence in the sport | | | | animal in the long term. |
| is their ability to relate to horses. It is partly a matter of | | | | Women are also frequently the leaders of the riding |
| sensitivity and patience. It is also a matter of willingness | | | | tours we handle around the world so our own ranch |
| to trust in a real partnership where the whole is far | | | | with its 180 horses is not an exception internationally. |
| more powerful than the sum of the parts. | | | | From Botswana to Argentina there are women |
| Men are often too preoccupied by the need to show | | | | leading rides and doing a first rate job. It does seem to |
| their macho strength in dominating a horse and are | | | | be true, however, that most Western dude ranches still |
| less willing to seek a harmonious relationship. They | | | | adhere strongly to the masculine cowboy mystique |
| often seem to feel they must overpower a horse and | | | | with Marlboro hats, coiled ropes and jingling spurs. It |
| make it totally subservient to their will. Many of them | | | | depends on one’s priorities and many of these |
| would be pleased if a horse reacted in the same | | | | ranches are focused more on the trappings of a |
| insensate way as an automobile to a turn of the | | | | Western experience with barbecues, hay rides, square |
| wheel, a foot on the brake or a push on the | | | | dances and sing-along’s rather than riding in the |
| accelerator. Some people are just more at ease with | | | | equestrian sense. |
| machines which will always obey even suicidal | | | | Many patriarchal societies of the past in the days |
| commands unquestioningly. | | | | when horses were such a symbol of power (it was |
| For 25 years I have owned one of the world’s | | | | not so long ago) tended to keep a near male |
| largest riding tour companies and we have found that | | | | monopoly on riding. It appears that this has not always |
| about 70% of our clients are female. They tend to find | | | | been the case. The ancient Greeks, who knew a lot |
| an easy rapport with horses which most men have | | | | about human nature, have such a rich mythology about |
| more trouble achieving. At our own dude ranch the | | | | women riders that it seems to me there is very likely |
| majority of our wranglers are women. They love | | | | some reason to believe in the existence of early |
| working with horses and are invariably patient, friendly | | | | women equestrians. Certainly the image of the fierce |
| and understanding to both horses and guests without | | | | Amazon horsewomen belonging to a matriarchal |
| showing off. They have taken the time to study | | | | society is a powerful and pervasive tale. These |
| equitation and horses in depth and many hold degrees | | | | fearsome equestrian warriors were reputed to have |
| from the British Horse Society or similar American | | | | cut off a right breast so that they could better handle |
| institutions. Our wranglers care passionately about the | | | | their bows and spears. If so, they must have been |
| physical and psychological welfare of their horses and | | | | mighty serious about what they were doing. It is |
| are extremely conscientious. We have seen few | | | | interesting that in Mongolian society today women |
| situations where great strength is an asset although | | | | participate in riding for work and sports right along with |
| men do have an advantage with shoeing. | | | | the men. |
| For 20 years Linda Tellington-Jones has been doing a | | | | Women have come into their own with horses in much |
| clinic at our ranch each year to teach people how to | | | | of the world now that men no longer monopolize them. |
| start young horses. During the week she starts our | | | | They find enjoyment and fulfillment in achieving a |
| four-year-old Arabians who have not yet been | | | | harmonious relationship which empowers both horse |
| backed although they are used to being around people | | | | and rider. One can find somewhat the same kind of |
| from the time they are born. These clinics using | | | | pleasure in teamwork with a working dog. Herding |
| non-confrontational techniques have been immensely | | | | cattle with a willing horse is a good example of the |
| successful with clients (90% women) and they have | | | | kind of thing people and horses can do together. |
| given our horses a wonderful start. During the week | | | | |